Questioning to Enhance Teaching and Learning

Asking questions is a very good way to find out about something.

Kermit the Frog

What Kinds of Questions Do We Ask?

Information/FactualResearch/Probing

Provocative/IrreverantChallengingReflective

Motivational/InventiveDivergent

Etc.

And, sometimes just silly . . .

Our First “Expert”Mckenzie, Jamie.

• From Now On (Ed. Tech. Journal)http://www.fno.org/

• The Question Mark (Ed. Tech. Journal)http://questioning.org/index.html

* Beyond Cut-and-Paste. 2009. * Leading Questions. 2007. * Learning to Question to Wonder to Learn. 2005.

From Trivial Pursuit toHigher Order Thinking

The Questioning Toolkit (Jamie McKenzie)http://questioning.org/Q7/toolkit.html

The Question Press (Jamie McKenzie)http://www.fno.org/feb04/questionpress.html

The Biography Maker (Jamie McKenzie)http://www.fno.org/bio/QUEST.HTM

Our Second “Expert”Loertscher, David.

• Ban Those Bird Units! 2005. • Davidvl.org (website of David Loertscher)• Beyond Bird Units*: David Loertscher, Carol

Koechlin, and Sandi Zwann

By the way, we have nothing against birds!

Beyond Bird Units:The Think Models

• apply critical and creative thinking. • build cross curricular literacy skills and new

literacies. • are engaging and effective. • empower students to build deeper

understanding.

Appetizer

Main Course

Dessert

The Think Models

• are knowledge building learning experiences.  

• are a framework for designing successful assignments.

• effectively utilize information and technology rich learning environments.

• provide opportunity for differentiated instruction.

BIG THINK: SO WHAT?

Turning Up the H.E.A.T.

H = Higher Order ThinkingE = Engaged LearningA = Authentic Tasks T = Added Value Technology Uses

Bernajean Porter

From Trivial Pursuit toHigher Order Thinking

YOUR ACTION PLAN

Consciously ask better questions.

Encourage students to ask

better questions.

Turn a lecture into a

discussion.

Transform one “bird unit.”

H.E.A.T. up an assignment.

A Few Ideas• Thought-Provoking Question of the Day

(or Week) http://www.internet4classrooms.com/question_day.htm

• E-Projects (To Generate Questions) Beyond “All About . . .”:– Pathfinders– Virtual Tours http://www.theteachersguide.com/virtualtours.html

– Interactive Video Conferencing• Use artifacts, photos, quotations, film clips, etc.

to model and teach good questioning.

http://www.minnesota-china.com/Education/fmMystPhNov16.htm

What are these black cubes on a stick?

A. Pieces of coal that can easily be put into a stove for cooking fuel.

B. Cubes of tofu ready to be cooked and then eaten.

C. Burnt squares of bread on stick.

More Ideas• Technology Tools for Higher Order Thinking

– Concept Mapping Tools• SMART Notebook• PowerPoint and Word• Inspiration

– Graphic Organizers

Note the types of visual organizers available in Smart Art in Powerpoint

Resources We Recommend

Bloom’s Taxonomy (1950s) Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy Blooms Digitally